Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is generally called “Jau”. It is quite significant cereal after wheat, maize & rice. In India, it is produced in a summer season in temperate area while, winter seasons in tropical zones. In India it is planted in rabi season. It possesses excellent drought resistance capacity thats why in Haryana it is cultivated in areas having less irrigation facility.

Barley plants are cultivated on significant number of soil such as sodic, light & saline soil. Although, it thrives perfect in moderately heavy loam to sandy soils having neutral to saline response and having moderate fertility. Acidic soils are not suitable for barley cultivation.

BH 75: Semi dwarf, early maturing variety. It is resistant to yellow rust. It is used for malting purpose. Gives average yield of 10-14qtl/acre.

BG 25: Tall variety suitable for irrigated areas. Grains are medium size and amber color. Gives average yield of 10-14qtl/acre.

BH 902: Suitable for timely sown irrigated areas. Grains are round, bold and medium size. It is resistant to lodging. Gives average yield of 20qtl/acre.

BG 105: Medium tall variety suitable for late sown and irrigated areas. Resistant to yellow rust. Gives average yield of 6-8qtl/acre.

BH 393: Suitable for timely sown, irrigated areas of Haryana. Resistant to yellow and brown rust. Gives average yield of 19qtl/acre.

BH885: Suitable for timely sown, irrigated areas of Haryana. It is resistant to lodging and rust disease. Gives average yield of 19qtl/acre.

Other States Variety

RD 2035, BCU 73, DWRUB 64, RD 2503

PL 751, NARENDRA BARLEY 2, GETANJALI (K1149)

Carry out the ploughing 2-3 times properly to make the land weed free. Before sowing crop land must be properly prepared smooth till fine tilth. Ploughing should be followed by 2-3 harrowings to conserved moisture in soil. The stubbles and roots of earlier crop should be hand-picked up and dash out of the ground as it attracts termites.

Time of sowing
For optimum yield, complete sowing from 15 October to 15 November. For irrigated areas, complete sowing from 15th to 30th November. In case of delay sowing, complete sowing in December Month. Do not delay sowing as it will affect on yield.

Spacing
Use row to row spacing of 22.5cm. In case of delay sowing, use spacing of 18-20cm.

Sowing Depth
Use depth of 3-5cm for crop under irrigated conditions and 5-8cm depth for rainfed conditions.

Method of Sowing
For sowing use broadcasting or seed drill method.

Seed Rate
Under irrigated conditions, use seed rate of 35 kg/acre and for rainfed conditions, use seed rate of 45 kg/acre.

Seed Treatment
To enhance the yield growth seeds should be treated with Bavistin@2gm/kg to protect it from smut disease. It can be treated with Vitavax@2.5gm/kg to prevent it from covered smut disease. To make seed termites free it should be treated with 250 ml Formothion in 5.3 ltr of water.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirments (kg/acre)

Apply fertilizer dose of N:P:K@25:12:6 kg/acre in term of Urea@55 kg/acre, SSP@75 kg/acre and MOP@10 kg/acre for irrigated areas. For unirrigated areas, apply fertilizer dose of N:P@12:6 kg/acre in form of Urea@26 kg and SSP@40 kg/acre. 

Apply half dose of Nitrogen and full dose of Phosphorus and Potash at the time of sowing as a basal dose. Apply remaining dose of Nitrogen at the time of first irrigation. In unirrigated areas, apply whole amount of Nitrogen and Phosphorus at the time of sowing. 

In initial stage of crop, weed control is necessary to obtain good crop growth along with good yield. Broad and narrow leaf are two major weeds in barley. To control broad leaf weed, apply post emergence weedicide 2,4-D@250gm/100Ltr of water per acre, 30-35 days after sowing.
To control narrow leaf weeds use isoproturon 75%WP@500gm/100Ltr of water or Pendimethalin 30% EC@1.4Ltr/100Lltr water for one acre.

For barley, two or three irrigations are required during its life cycle. Avoid water stress during jointing, booting and heading stage. Moisture stress at this stage will lead to loss in yield. To optimise yield, soil moisture levels should remain above 50% of available moisture in the active root zone from seeding to the soft dough stage.
Apply first irrigation at crown root initiation i.e 25 to 30 days after sowing. At panicle emergence stage apply second irrigation.

Stinkbug: The bug is shield in shape and is either green or brown in color having yellowish red marking. These bugs bring pathogenic organism carrying in their mouth and cause severe infection to the plant. The eggs are laid on leaves in the cluster form.

Control: To eradicate the stink bug naturally is to eliminate weed all around the crops. Permethrin and bifenthrin are two pesticides which are used carefully to kill the pests.

Wireworm: They are light brown in color and there larval stage complete within 1-4year. It damages seedling twist the stem and crown turns white in color.

Control: Post-emergent pesticide is not available for wireworm control. But seeds can be treated pre-emergent Cruiser Maxx® which contain Thiamethoxam@2gm/1kg of seeds.

Aphids: These are nearly transparent, soft-body sucking insects. When present in sufficient numbers, aphids can cause yellowing and pre-mature death of leaves. Infestation usually occurs during second fortnight of January till crop.
 
Control: For management of Aphid, use chrysoperla predators, 4-6 thousand/acre or use 50 gm/ltr neem concentrate. In cloudy weather infestation of aphid is occurred. Spray with Thiamethoxam or Imidacloprid 60ml/acre in 100ltr of water.

Ear head bug: Adults attack on milky stage of crop. They feed on emerging panicle and produces chaffy grains with silky webs. Eggs are of shiny white color and found in cluster with orange hairs. Caterpillars are of brown colors with yellow band and minute hairs. Adults are of brownish color having fibrous forewings and yellowish hindwings.

Control: To attract adult moth place light traps during day time. Place Pheromone trap @5/acre at flowering stage until panicle stage. In case of severe infestation spray Malathion 400ml or Carbaryl@600-800gm in100Ltr of water.

Grass hopper: Nymphs and adults feeds on leaves. Nymphs are of whitish color with lines while adults are greenish brown in colour with lines on body.

Control: After harvesting remove all plant remains and follow proper sanitation, cleanliness in the field. Do ploughing after harvesting also in summer so that egg present in soil get exposed to sun and thus get destroyed. If infestation is observed spray with Carbaryl 50WP@600gm/acre.

Thrips: Mostly observed in dry weather.

To check severity of thrips incidence, keep blue sticky traps @6-8 per acre. Also to reduce the incidence spray Verticillium lecani@5gm/Ltr water.
2) If incidence of thrips is more, then take spray of Imidacloprid 17.8%SL or Fipronil@1ml/Ltr water or Fipronil 80%WP@2.5gm/Ltr of water or Acephate 75% WP@800gm/100Ltr or do drenching of Thiamethoxam 25% WG@80gm/100Ltr of water.

• Disease and their control:

Powdery mildew: Greyish white powdery growth appears on the leaf, sheath, stem and floral parts. Powdery growth later become black lesions and cause drying of leaves and other parts. The disease infects plants during periods of high humidity and cool to moderate temperatures. Low light intensity, which accompanies dry weather and a dense crop canopy favours this disease.

When incidence of disease is observed, spray with Wettable sulphur@2gm/Ltr of water or Carbendazim@400gm/acre. In case of high incidence spray with Propiconazole@1ml/Liter of water.

Stripe/Yellow rust: The ideal growth conditions for yellow rust are temperature between 8-13°C for spore germination and penetration, and 12-15°C for further development and with free water. The yield penalties from yellow rust can range from 5% to as high as 30% in high disease pressure scenarios. The pustules of stripe rust, which, contain yellow to orange-yellow urediospores, usually form narrow stripes on the leaves.

For control of this disease, use rust resistant variety. Follow crop rotation and adopt mix cropping pattern. Avoid excess use of Nitrogen. When symptom observed, do dusting of Sulphur@12-35kg/acre or take spray of Mancozeb @2gm/Ltr or spray the crop with Propiconazole 25EC@1ml/Ltr of water.

Flag smut: It is seed borne disease. Infection spread through wind. It is favored by cool, humid conditions during flowering period of the host plant.

Treat the seeds with fungicides like carboxin 75WP@2.5gm/kg of seeds, Carbendazim @ 2.5gm/kg seed, Tebuconazole @1.25gm/kg of seed if the disease level in the seed rot is high. If it is low to moderate, treat the seed with a combination of Trichoderma viride@4gm/kg seed and half the recommended dose of Carboxin (Vitavax 75WP)@1.25gm/kg seed).

Crop matures at end of March or April depending upon variety use. To avoid over ripening avoid delay in harvesting. The right stage for harvesting is when moisture in grain reaches to 25-30%. For manual harvesting use serrate edge sickles. Store in dry place after harvesting.

Use for malting purpose.

1.Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana

2.Department of Agriculture

3.Indian Agricultural Research Instittute, New Delhi

4.Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research

5.Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare